St. Elizabeth University has received a prestigious award for its long-standing contribution to introducing family group conferences and to the development of social work in Slovakia.
St. Elizabeth University of Health and Social Work has recently achieved another significant success, confirming its key role in the system of support for vulnerable communities. At the anniversary conference 20 Years of Family Group Conferences in Slovakia, held in May 2026 in the prestigious setting of Vígľaš Castle, our institution was publicly honoured for its tireless work.
For two decades, family group conferences have been a unique tool in Slovakia that returns the resolution of crisis situations directly to those most affected by them. This model, also known in Slovakia as Family Circle Meetings (SRK), involves not only state authorities in supporting the child but, above all, the child’s natural support network, including the wider family, the school and the local community.
At the heart of this approach is the belief that a child is not merely a case to be closed administratively. Opening the conference, Emília Chovancová Bezáková, Chair of Úsmev ako dar (Smile as a Gift), emphasised that instead of formal, desk-bound procedures, these meetings create a living and safe plan of support.
At the gala evening that crowned the professional programme, our university received special recognition. Representatives of the university accepted the award from the leadership of Úsmev ako dar as a token of gratitude for more than two decades of intensive and fruitful cooperation.
The university’s Director, Michal Krčméry, expressed gratitude that the university had been able to play an active part in putting this concept into practice. “We are grateful that St. Elizabeth University of Health and Social Work was able to play an active part in implementing the family group conference concept as a systemic solution for helping children, which today is firmly embedded in Slovak legislation,” said Michal Krčméry.
Our university’s contribution resonated not only with colleagues from the non-profit sector but was also recognised by key representatives of the state administration. Words of appreciation were addressed to the university by Peter Pamuľa, State Secretary of the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family of the Slovak Republic; Peter Ormandy, Director General of the Central Office of Labour, Social Affairs and Family; and Jozef Mikloško, Commissioner for Children.
[image caption:] Úsmev ako dar honours St. Elizabeth University for its long-standing contribution and the unique family group conference model
All of them particularly highlighted the university’s educational and practical contribution, which shapes generations of professionals ready for fieldwork. In this context, Michal Krčméry added: “We thank everyone for their kind words about our university and for recognising its educational and practical contribution to social work in Slovakia. We also thank Úsmev ako dar for this award and, above all, for 22 years of intensive cooperation in supporting families.”
The conference also welcomed experts from abroad, most notably Hedda van Lieshout of the Dutch organisation Eigen Kracht Centrale. Her presence confirmed that the Slovak family group conference model has reached a level that is highly regarded within the European FGC (Family Group Conference) network.
| Participants and partners | |
|---|---|
| Peter Ormandy | Director General, Central Office of Labour, Social Affairs and Family |
| Jozef Mikloško | Commissioner for Children |
| Peter Pamuľa | State Secretary, Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family of the Slovak Republic |
| Hedda van Lieshout | Director, Eigen Kracht Centrale (Netherlands) |
The event closed with the message that sustainable change cannot be achieved without close cooperation between every link in the chain. St. Elizabeth University remains one of the key guarantors that scientific knowledge and professional training are translated into real help for the most vulnerable.
